JIM LEISHMAN says that Gary Riddell will always be part of the “Pars family” following a ceremony in his memory on Saturday.

The Ellon-born player was just 22 when he lost his life tragically after he collapsed while running in the 1989 Dunfermline half marathon – alongside team-mates Norrie McCathie and John Watson – to raise funds for the Hillsborough disaster.

To mark the 25th year since his passing, supporters travelling to the match at Peterhead stopped off in his home village to join club officials and members of Riddell’s family at his graveside for a short service that saw wreaths laid from the club and the Dunfermline Athletic and Kincardine supporters clubs.

Speaking to those gathered, a visibly emotional Leishman, who signed Riddell in 1987 from Aberdeen during his first spell as Athletic manager, said, “Gary would have been a 48-year-old man in the prime of his life right now had he not been struck down at that all too young age of 22. As most of you will know, Gary passed away whilst doing good for others, raising money for the Hillsborough victims who passed away just two months before he ran the fateful Dunfermline half marathon on 11th June 1989.

“Gary personally took on the mantle of raising money for victims’ families with his half marathon run raising sponsorship for those very people who had recently suffered such tragic losses.” Although he had been in and around the squad under former Pars striker Sir Alex Ferguson, Riddell’s chances at Pittodrie became limited when Ian Porterfield took over after Ferguson departed for Manchester United and he jumped at the chance of a move to East End Park during Athletic’s first season back in the Premier Division.

Leishman continued, “Despite a few niggling injuries, Gary started for Dunfermline Athletic 24 times in his first season. We were relegated that season but were all determined to come back bigger and better. Gary was an absolutely integral part of the side that wanted to come straight back at the first time of asking.

“Gary played in 22 league matches that following season, richly deserving the league winner’s medal that came his way. Unfortunately, he never managed to play his part the following season after his tragic death just one month after being part of the celebrations that saw the championship trophy lifted at East End Park. He made 51 first-team appearances but we’ll never know how much more he would inevitably have gone on to achieve in his chosen sport.”